The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1887-10-27

was Republican. and an Ohio Republican
wss chairman, Of the csmmittee, The
average rate OF duties collected en- dutiabIe
gsods the preceding year, 1856, had only
been 22.4S per cent. This was the very
lowest rate that had been collected In any
one year for almost forty years 1t lacked
considerable of being half as high as the
rate now imposed. There had been long
period of very low duties, and the rate had
been constantly falling. If low tariff is
disastrous these years should have tested
aud demonstrated the fact. If it tends to
arrest the progress of civilization, and the
accumulation and fair diffusion of wealth,
these eleven years of low tariff should have
proved it beyond dispute. How did the
statesmen of that day meet the condition
of things that then existed2 Did they
lnaugurate wasteful schemes of extrava-
CANT expenditurep Did they, did any of
them, propose to raise the rate Of duties
to the prohibition point, SO as to reduce the
income of the government in that way, as
Is now seriously proposed by as eminent
man as Senator Sherman2 No, no. They
went to work and largely reduced the
tariff rates. Republicans and Democrats
Joined hands to do that. 1t was time of
fierce party excitement. Party lines were
never more stringently drawn. The new
Republican party was forcing its way into
power over the weakened but enraged
ranks of the Democrats. They had the
majority in the House, but by great
majority Of more than fifty votes the bill
was passed. Some of the most emiaent
Ravs the bill their sanction and
their votes. Burlingame voted for it.
Burlington, who so long represented the
great manufacturing district Of Fall River.
voted for it. Henry Winter Davis voted
FOR II. General Spinner, so long the dis
tinguished Treasurer of the United States,
voted for it, as did Israel Washbdrn, with
Campbell, Horton and Mott at least, from
Ohio. The bill went to the Senate, where
it was passed BIZ vote of 33 to 8. Three
ftths of the Republican members of the
Senate voted for the bill; and, among the
num0er,I find the names Of Hamilton Fish,
Foster, of Connecticut; Trumbull, of Hi
nois; Henry Wilson, of Massachusetts. and
William H.eSeward, of New York. With
the recent experience of almost a dozen
years of the lowest tariff that we had had
for more than a generation, these great
Republican statesmen declared under the
solemnities of their oaths, that it was
wise, just and proper thing still further
largely to reduce the tariff taxes.
That was the remedy that cur statesmen
Of the last generation app led to condi-
lion Of things like unto that which at
present confronts US; and differing only in
the fact that the danger now ahead of US is
many fold as great as it was in 1857; and
in the further fact that they reduced taxes
which were then almost unfelt, because
they we're SO light, while we are bearing
burdens that are, and long have been,
almost intolerable.
Now, my friends, what reason exists why
we should not follow the example so sig
nally set US thirty years agoP If it was
REASONABLE and proper thing then, as was
adjudged by great majority of both
Houses of Congress, without distinction of
party, to reduce the tariff on dutiable
goods from 22.45 per cent. to 18 "a per
cent, why in Heavens name is it not a
reasonable and proper thing to redu'e
duties which average, as they now do, Al
per cent? As at this rate we are collect
ing twice as much money as there is any
necessity of collecting by customs duties,
whv not reduce them so heavily that no
more money will be taken from the people
than the government requires?
REVIEWING THE FORAKER PLAN.
Totbe question, in substance. the young
and brilliant" Governor of our State has
recently attempted to give an answer. In
order that may do Governor Foraker no
injustice, l will quote the material por-
i1ns of his carefully prepared and delib-
crate paper as published in the Forum.
1t embraces, think in a condensed form
every important reason assigned by those
who favor the maintenance of our present
protective duties:
mo one who can remember the weak
and dependent condition of the country in
1850 needs to be told how perfectly free
trade did It's appointed work. On the
other hand, notwithstanding the wastes of
The war, we have in twenty-six years,
swelled the aggregate of our wealth from
S14, ,G00,000 to S50,000, 100000. The
property thus represented beneGcially
affects every human being in the United
States. 1t is manifested by new farms,
towns. cities. railroads and every kind of
manufacture, industry and improvement
that could be suggested by our natural ad-
vantages or created by the skill, ingenuity
and patriotism of our countrynen. The
old-time stock argument of the free trader,
that tariff duties are a taY on the consumer